Dictionary of English - racialist or racist

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The words are often used interchangeably but a distinction can be made. A racialist is someone who believes in the superiority of one race (usually white) over another (usually black or coloured), and who voices their views when surrounded (and outnumbered) by representatives of the 'other' race: Many white racialists in South Africa were bitterly opposed to the release of the ANC leader Nelson Mandela.

A racist is more of a theorist, believing that race is what determines a person's characteristics, so that some races are superior to others: Critics remain divided regarding the extent to which Rudyard Kipling was or was not a racist. The accepted pronunciation of both noun and adjective is [ray-sist], as the word comes from race. The pronunciation [ray-shist], probably formed by analogy with racialist or fascist, is generally regarded as incorrect.

Black, yellow, and green are colours found in many African flags and reflect the islanders' heritage. Effective date: 6 August 1962. >>